Sports DrinksOne thing that is most common in every sport is that they all require a lot of energy and stamina. For all those who are ‘on the go’ it is very important to have a good health with a lot of physical strength. For such people sports drink is an absolute must. Not only do these drinks provide the energy and the necessary nutrients, they also help rejuvenate the tired sportsmen, so that they feel refreshed and can continue playing without stopping for long.Often people end up confusing sports drink and energy drinks to be the same thing. However, the two beverages are not exactly identical to each other. Though they are mostly similar to each other, the difference between the two lies in the fact that energy drinks, in most cases aim to provide a lot of sugar and caffeine. However, the basic purpose of sports drink is to replenish the ectrolytes, water, sugar and other necessary nutrients, that are mostly isotonic (that contain proportions equivalent to the one found in a human’s body). There are essentially three types of sports drinks. These are classified on the basis of their key ingredients or contents that include their various fluid levels, the carbohydrates they contain, and the electrolytes that are present. This helps in understanding the character of a particular sports drink and its nutritional value. This in turn decides how well it can refresh and energize the players. The three types of sports drinks are Isotonic (containing fluids, 8 to 6% of carbohydrates and electrolytes), Hypotonic (containing fluids, low levels of carbohydrates and electrolytes), and finally the Hypertonic (containing a high level of carbohydrates). Isotonic drinks have an osmolality ranging from two hundred and seventy to about three hundred and thirty mosm/kg. Therefore these fluids are in balance with the fluid of the body. However, in case of the hypotonic fluids, there are fewer particles in it than a human’s blood. Hypertonic sports drinks, on the other hand have many more particles than the blood. Consumption of sports drinks that have a low osmolality, such as water, causes a fall or decline in one’s blood plasma osmolality. This in turn reduces the urge to drink enough even before adequate amount of fluid has been drunk in order to make up for the losses.Therefore, though sports drinks are quite popular as well as much required. It is always suggested that one knows well before hand all about the drink. After all nobody would like to see his favorite team loose the football match all because of a drink! |